Tag: mutation
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From Viral Invaders to Evolutionary Enablers: Viruses and the Mammalian Placenta
The placenta is a fascinating organ: not only is it temporary, but it has also enabled animals to give birth to live offspring. In fact, it is the first organ to form in mammalian development, and its ancestral form developed approximately 130 million years ago (Chuong, 2018). The evolution of the placenta brought about the…
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Why Trees Weep
Over 70,000 tree species exist worldwide, yet each species exhibits distinct traits and fulfils a unique ecological niche (Gatti, et al., 2022). Trees are highly sophisticated and receptive to environmental stimuli, altering their growth patterns in response to the presence of sunlight, water, and other organisms (Freschet, et al., 2013). Trees grow branches out from…